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Chapter 6: Problem 1

Objects placed together eventually reach the same temperature. When you go into a room and touch a piece of metal in that room, it feels colder than a piece of plastic. Explain.

Short Answer

Expert verified
In conclusion, the metal feels colder than the plastic when they are both at the same temperature because of their difference in thermal conductivity. The metal's higher thermal conductivity results in faster heat transfer, quickly absorbing heat from your hand and creating a feeling of coldness. In contrast, the plastic's lower thermal conductivity leads to slower heat transfer, making it feel warmer in comparison.

Step by step solution

01

Thermal conductivity is a property of a material that determines how quickly it can transfer heat through conduction. Materials with higher thermal conductivity can transfer heat more rapidly than materials with lower thermal conductivity. In this case, metals generally have a higher thermal conductivity compared to plastics. #Step 2: Discuss Heat Transfer through Conduction#

Heat transfer through conduction occurs when two objects with different temperatures come into contact with each other. The heat flows from the warmer object to the cooler object in order to reach an equilibrium temperature. In this scenario, when you touch the metal and the plastic, your body heat is transferred to the objects. #Step 3: Relate Thermal Conductivity to the Sensation of Touch#
02

When you touch the metal, its high thermal conductivity allows it to quickly absorb heat from your hand and transfer it away. This causes your hand to feel colder, as heat energy is being taken away from it rapidly. On the other hand, when you touch the plastic, its lower thermal conductivity means it absorbs heat from your hand at a slower rate. As a result, the plastic does not feel as cold because it is not pulling heat away from your hand as quickly as the metal. #Step 4: Conclude with the Explanation of the Difference in Sensation#

In conclusion, the reason you feel the metal to be colder than the plastic when they are both at the same temperature is due to the difference in their thermal conductivity. The metal's higher thermal conductivity allows it to quickly transfer heat from your hand, creating a feeling of coldness, whereas the plastic's lower thermal conductivity results in less heat being transferred, and therefore it feels warmer in comparison.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Write reactions for which the enthalpy change will be a. \(\Delta H_{\mathrm{f}}^{\circ}\) for solid aluminum oxide. b. the standard enthalpy of combustion of liquid ethanol, \(\mathrm{C}_{2} \mathrm{H}_{5} \mathrm{OH}(l) .\) c. the standard enthalpy of neutralization of sodium hydroxide solution by hydrochloric acid. d. \(\Delta H_{\mathrm{f}}^{\circ}\) for gaseous vinyl chloride, \(\mathrm{C}_{2} \mathrm{H}_{3} \mathrm{Cl}(\mathrm{g})\). e. the enthalpy of combustion of liquid benzene, \(\mathrm{C}_{6} \mathrm{H}_{6}(l)\). f. the enthalpy of solution of solid ammonium bromide.

The standard enthalpy of combustion of ethene gas, \(\mathrm{C}_{2} \mathrm{H}_{4}(\mathrm{~g})\), is \(-1411.1 \mathrm{~kJ} / \mathrm{mol}\) at \(298 \mathrm{~K}\). Given the following enthalpies of formation, calculate \(\Delta H_{\mathrm{f}}^{\circ}\) for \(\mathrm{C}_{2} \mathrm{H}_{4}(\mathrm{~g})\). $$ \begin{array}{ll} \mathrm{CO}_{2}(g) & -393.5 \mathrm{~kJ} / \mathrm{mol} \\ \mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{O}(l) & -285.8 \mathrm{~kJ} / \mathrm{mol} \end{array} $$

What is incomplete combustion of fossil fuels? Why can this be a problem?

For the process \(\mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{O}(l) \longrightarrow \mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{O}(g)\) at \(298 \mathrm{~K}\) and \(1.0 \mathrm{~atm}\), \(\Delta H\) is more positive than \(\Delta E\) by \(2.5 \mathrm{~kJ} / \mathrm{mol}\). What does the \(2.5 \mathrm{~kJ} / \mathrm{mol}\) quantity represent?

Are the following processes exothermic or endothermic? a. When solid \(\mathrm{KBr}\) is dissolved in water, the solution gets colder. b. Natural gas \(\left(\mathrm{CH}_{4}\right)\) is burned in a furnace. c. When concentrated \(\mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{SO}_{4}\) is added to water, the solution gets very hot. d. Water is boiled in a teakettle.
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